The Southington Education Foundation is committed to instilling a love of learning in our children through innovative and creative initiatives that expand existing educational opportunities. The Foundation will reach out to the community to help secure and inspire excellence and overall achievement in our already outstanding school system.

Upcoming Events

Apr. 8: Exec Board Mtg.

Apr. 23: Spelling Bee

Jun. 5: Board at Large Mtg.

Oct. 24: Fan of the Foundation

Join SEF

We're always looking for members to help us achieve our mission of instilling a love of learning in our children. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Jan Galati.

We're still looking for teams to join us Wednesday, April 23, at 7pm, for our 4th Annual Community Spelling Bee. Teams made up of local citizens, politicians, businesses, educators, police, fire, and other public officials will compete to win the coveted title of SEF Spelling Champion.

The event will be held at the Southington High School Auditorium and the proceeds will help foster educational excellence for our town's public school children.

Our Beemaster, Joe Furey, Chief Meteorologist of Fox CT, will help the Southington Education Foundation spell "excellence" for the community's school children. Our corporate sponsor this year is The Hospital of Central Connecticut. We are so pleased to have them join us with their financial support of $1,000!

Participation is $100 per person or $300 per 3-person team. Costumes, themes, and mascots are encouraged! Audience admission is free; however, we ask that you bring a nonperishible food item as a donation to Southington Community Services.

At last month's Executive Board meeting of the Southington Education Foundation, the Directors approved a $20,000 donation, the remaining funding needed to complete the YMCA Camp Sloper Nature Center.

The 750 square-foot building, previously a pavilion, will be enclosed for year-round use. Additionally, the Nature Center building has the potential for expanding the Science at Sloper initiative.

Currently, all fourth graders are bused to this site in the fall and spring; in the future students may be able to participate in winter enrichment activities.

The SEF Board approval of the Nature Center brings a type of closure to the STEM Center Project launched in 2010. Needless to say, the Executive Board is very excited about this endeavor which allows for continued enrichment opportunities for Southington Public School students.

A huge shout out to Dawn Miceli who has worked diligently with Mark Pooler to make this project happen!

Thanks to all who supported our SEF fundraiser at Panera Bread on Feb. 15. Despite the wintry weather, the event garnered nearly $2,000 for our organization! A huge shout-out to Panera Bread for its generosity to the SEF, Bread for Life, Foodshare and Southington Community Theatre.

Hospital of Central CT Partnership

The Hospital of Central Connecticut recently began collaborating with the SEF to provide Southington students experiences in the medical profession. In a meeting between SEF representatives, Dawn Miceli and Jan Galati, community outreach coordinator Linda Tipping of Hospital of Central Connecticut suggested field trips to robotic surgery centers and mentorships as a couple of ways the two organizations could work together to provide career exploration opportunities and educational enrichment for middle and high school students. Stay tuned for further information as this partnership unfolds.

Jan Galati extended thanks to outgoing chairman Dawn Miceli, secretary Beth Pestillo and director Steve Giudice for their years of service and dedication to the SEF. They have been instrumental in driving the SEF forward and leave it in good hands to continue the momentum.

Dr. Joseph V. Erardi, Jr. promoted the idea of establishing an educational foundation in Southington more than five years ago. He reached out to community members who he thought might be interested in developing a nonprofit educational organization that could develop BIG ideas and provide funding for programs that would go beyond the Southington Board of Education's responsibilities. Since then Dr. Erardi has been a very active part of the goings-on of the Southington Education Foundation providing his time, talent and treasure. He has reached out to many town businesses and civic organizations and in so doing assisted SEF members to lift a fledgling educational organization to a level where significant impact is witnessed in the Southington community. The Southington Education Foundation will miss his guidance, enthusiasm and his "I'm in!" attitude. Nonetheless, he has planted the seed for our mission - to instill a love of learning - and the SEF is committed to continue his work.